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You either love them or hate them. National Day Parade (NDP) theme songs often draw strong reactions — and robust debate in some cases. While NDP songs have evolved over the years together with Singapore's progress, there are a few classics we'll always know and love, like Home and We Are Singapore.
Here's a look at the NDP songs throughout the years — let's see how well you and your little ones know them!
Sung by Kit Chan, There's No Place I'd Rather Be was one of the two theme music pieces for the 2007 National Day Parade.
The other was this song:
2023: Shine Your Light
If last year's theme was hope, this year's is definitely celebration — a no-holds-barred joyous symphony that inspires and honours the Singaporean's "go-getter" spirit. We love that there's a whole range of local talent, including 53A, The Island Voices, lewloh, Olivia Ong, ShiGGa Shay, Iman Fandi, and Lineath. It's definitely a song the little ones can dance to.
2022: Stronger Together
This year saw a much more upbeat NDP theme song with lyrics inspired by the hope for a brighter future, as Singapore emerged from the challenging pandemic years at last. The music video sees people coming together, quite literally, in a nod to the community coming back together after social distancing measures were lifted. There are scenes of teamwork, rebuilding, and sheer joy — apt for the rallying call that this song is. It's performed by Taufik Batisah and The Island Voices, with music and lyrics by Don Richmond.
2021: The Road Ahead
The song for 2021 continues the themes of unity, strength, and resilience — plus the addition of adorable graphics laid over the scenes, a tribute to the year that virtual interaction became the default thanks to social distancing. Performed by Linying, Sezairi Sezali, Shye and Shabir, it's a song of hope as Singapore continued to strive through the challenges of the pandemic.
2020: Everything I Am
There's no doubt 2020 was an especially tough year for Singapore with the pandemic. The NDP song for this year focuses on themes of kindness, gratitude, and togetherness — reminding us that community spirit is essential for getting through difficult times together.
The music and lyrics were composed by Joshua Wan, while the song was performed by Nathan Hartono. It's a soulful, intimate rendition that's quite different from the usual style of NDP songs.
2019: Our Singapore
Directed by film-maker and multimedia director Royston Tan, the music video for this year's NDP theme song is perhaps the most crowded, with a massive inter-generational cast of almost 300 Singaporeans.
Aged from three to 93 years old, the ensemble symbolises the passing of the baton of nation-building from one generation to the next.
An assembly of 27 artists come together to sing Our Singapore, which mashes up past National Day tunes such as We Will Get There (2002) and Our Singapore (2015).
The stars involved include JJ Lin, Stefanie Sun, Rahimah Rahim, Tracy Huang, Taufik Batisah and The Sam Willows.
The song was composed by veteran singer-songwriter Dick Lee, who is creative director for NDP 2019 and was also behind hit NDP 1998 song Home.
2018: We are Singapore
2018's NDP theme song is a modern take on a 1987 classic. Home-grown singer Charlie Lim rewrote the verses of the NDP favourite, We are Singapore, to include lyrics like "the future is uncertain and everything must change".
Mr Lim, 29, said: "They wanted to refresh the song which was written in 1987 and was very relevant in its time, but I think now we want to look at things from a younger generation's perspective."
To come up with the song, Mr Lim spent a week watching YouTube videos of old NDP songs to figure out what worked.
"It was kind of scary to take on something that everyone knows and sings," he said. "I recorded a demo in my bedroom and we actually used that. In fact, the vocals you hear on the actual track are actually from the original demo. We actually tried recording it in the studio, but decided that it had a better performance and came from a more heartfelt place."
Inspired by the everyday lives of Singaporeans living together in harmony, 2017's song, titled Because It's Singapore!, is a rousing ballad composed by veteran Lee Wei Song.
Local musician Jay Lim wrote the lyrics and lent his voice to the first public performance of the song on Wednesday (May 17).
One line in the song that touches him the most is the chorus that goes "Nothing in this world compares to our Singaporean Life", said Lim at a media conference to release the song.
Both of them worked to make the song profoundly emotional, yet easily sung.
Some commenters have criticised the song for not being exuberant enough and derivative of earlier songs.
2016: Tomorrow's Here Today
The upbeat pop anthem aimed to rally Singaporeans to ponder about the country's future, in tune with that year's futuristic theme of Building Our Singapore of Tomorrow.
It was written by composer Don Richmond, 39, and performed by local band 53A.
It appears to have hit the right note with those who responded to a Straits Times online poll. Of the 240 responses garnered as of June 20, 68 per cent said they like it, with some singing praises about its fun, indie vibe. But some say it lacks a connection with older Singaporeans due to its pop background.
2015: Our Singapore
Composed by singer-songwriter Dick Lee, the theme song was one that looked into the future as the nation celebrated its 50th birthday, and at the same time paid tribute to its pioneers and founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew.
Breaking with NDP tradition, there was no theme song because the organisers wanted familiar tunes that resonate with Singaporeans, and decided that the classic NDP songs complemented that year's theme, Our People, Our Home.
2013: One Singapore
The theme song was sung by a choir of 68 ordinary Singaporeans. Netizens slammed it for sounding like a children's song or a nursery rhyme; others questioned the need to have a new song every year.
2012: Love At First Light
Written by Paul Tan and composed by the late Iskandar Ismail, the song was performed by Singaporean artiste Olivia Ong and child actress, Natanya Tan.
2011: In A Heartbeat
Performed by Singaporean artiste Sylvia Ratonel, the first female finalist in the history of reality singing TV show Singapore Idol.
2010: Song For Singapore
The theme song was composed and sung by US-based Singaporean singer Corrinne May.
2009: What Do You See?
The rock tune What Do You See by local band Electrico drew mixed reactions. Critics said it lacked broad appeal and failed to strike a chord with people.
2008: Shine For Singapore
The English version was performed by Hady Mirza, the winner of the second season of Singapore Idol. Pop singer Joi Chua sang the Mandarin version.
2007: There's No Place I'd Rather Be and Will You
2006: My Island Home
Kaira Gong, the singer behind 2006's NDP song, said getting picked to sing it was an enormous surprise.
"I'm considered quite new so I didn't expect to be chosen. Usually it's the more established artists," she said.
But the lyrics of the song spoke volumes to her as, when she was chosen, she had just returned from Taiwan and had been homesick for Singapore.
2005: Reach Out For The Skies
The catchy song was performed by Taufik Batisah, winner of the first season of Singapore Idol, and actress Rui En.
2004: Home (Remix)
Singer JJ Lin performed this version of the 1999 hit at the parade that year.
Before that, however, he visited his alma mater, St Andrew's Junior College, and gave an impromptu rendition of the song there to an adoring crowd.
2003: One United People
The music video for 2003's song, sung by Stefanie Sun, featured performers breakdancing in cowboy outfits.
2002: We Will Get There
We Will Get There was composed by Dick Lee and performed by Stefanie Sun, who would go on to sing the following year's song as well.
2001: Where I Belong
The rocky tune and smooth melody was released as an EP in 2001 by Singaporean singer and songwriter, Tanya Chua.
2000: Shine On Me
Local singer Mavis Hee performed this song together with Jai Wahab.
Hee had performed on National Day three years prior, albeit in a smaller role - she sang her original composition, Colours, at the post-parade party.
1999: Together
Artists Dreamz FM and Evelyn Tan sang this song, which was composed by Ken Lim.
1990: One People, One Nation, One Singapore
Though this song is one of the evergreen National Day hits, it did not feature any notable performers at the time. There would be no new National Day songs introduced until Home, eight years later.
1987: We are Singapore
The lyrics of this song include quotes from a 1966 speech at the Victoria Theatre by then prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, who said: “This is my country, this is my flag; this is my president, this is my future. I am going to protect it.”
It also features the words of the Singapore pledge.
1986: Count on Me, Singapore
This song was penned by Canadian Hugh Harrison, a former jazz pianist who worked for an advertising company. Harrison was also behind Stand Up for Singapore and We are Singapore.
1984 & 1985: Stand Up for Singapore
The first National Day Parade song, Stand Up for Singapore was commissioned as part of a larger campaign by an advertising agency to celebrate Singapore’s 25 years of self-government.
Song sheets for the song were distributed to school children to help them learn the song before National Day in 1984, and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra would perform the song at the National Stadium later that year.